Hydro-Québec wants to hike electricity rates by 5.4 per cent

Hydro-Québec is hoping to raise the price of electricity by up to 5.4 per cent next year.

The utility submitted the request to the province's energy board on Tuesday.

If approved, the increases would come into effect April 1, 2014.

The request comes four months after the last electricity rate increase was given the go-ahead.

The province's energy board approved a 2.4 per cent rate hike in April 2013, which translated into about $30 more for the average Quebec household each year.

Hydro-Québec says this latest increase is needed to fund new wind farms and keep up with inflation. The utility says the hikes would also help pay for rising commercial and residential demands for electricity across Quebec.

If approved, the average homeonwer in Quebec could be paying $6 more each month, or $72 a year.